FirstBank reaffirms commitment to sustaining 106-year-old polo tournament

Bashir Ali, Group Head Public Sector, First Bank Nigeria Ltd. Abuja, made this known in an interview with our reporter in Kaduna on Sunday at the conclusion of the 106th edition of the tournament.

Ali described the longstanding sponsorship as a source of pride for the bank, saying the partnership had endured because the tournament continued to provide value to the financial institution.

“If there is no value, we would not be here for over 100 years. So, definitely, there is value,” he said.

According to him, the tournament has continued to improve over the years, particularly in the quality of the playing field and the standard of play.

“The field has continued to improve. The quality of play has also continued to improve. You can see what we are seeing today. It’s a great game, and we are proud to be associated with it,” he said.

Ali disclosed that the Kaduna Polo Club had submitted the Georgian Cup for consideration by the Guinness World Records as the longest-running sponsorship.

It was reported that four teams – El-Amin, Musaco, Pop Cola and Malcomais participated at the finals of the tournament held at the Murtala Mohammed Square Kaduna on Sunday.

The first match of the day saw Musaco defeating  Pop Cola by six and a half goals to six in a closely contested encounter.

In the Georgian Cup final, El-Amin and Malcomais played out a 10-10 draw, with El-Amin awarded the trophy based on the outcome of their previous encounters.

El-Amin Polo Club won the prestigious FirstBank Georgian Cup for the 17th time, extending its record as one of the most successful teams in the history of the competition.

The Kaduna International Polo Tournament remains a major fixture on the state’s sporting calendar, bringing together teams, players and enthusiasts to celebrate polo and compete for honours.